From: Ryan M Gill (rmgill@mindspring.com)
Date: Wed Jan 14 2004 - 13:46:19 PST
At 9:56 AM -0500 1/14/04, Ron wrote:
>Go to:
>
>http://www.i2itelevision.com/abikeisborn/harley.php
>
I sent the producers an e-mail of the following
and got a response in a few hours.
>From: Ryan Gill [mailto:rmgill@mindspring.com]
>Sent: 14 January 2004 18:24
>To: info@i2itelevision.com
>Subject: Civilianized Military Harley
>
>
>I can't believe your program destroyed a historic
>military vehicle. Mark should have restored it to
>it's original specification as a military bike.
>There aren't many out there and they need to be
>restored not destroyed. A project like this is
>tantamount to putting neon lights on the front of
>Big Ben or the Tower of London after painting it
>Neon Pink!
>
>Shame!
Here's what I got back just a few minutes ago..! Kind of funny actually.
>Ryan
>
>I think I can guess from your Ferret / Dingo/Humber logo where you are
>coming from but can I disabuse you of a few things
>
>Firstly it was probably never a military vehicle over half of the 90,000
>built bikes were released into the civilian market as they were surplus to
>needs, many thousands more were abandoned in their theatres of war or sold
>to local dealers. Civilianising these machines started in 1945 and has been
>part of the history of harley davidson ever since.
>
>secondly when we got it it had been turned into a police bike and used in
>the film Evita
>
>Thirdly there are thousands left, some, military many more civilianised
>
>Fourthly - nothing has been destroyed, it's had a coat of paint a bit of
>chrome and all the mechanics restored to mint condition - far from
>destroying it we have ensured it's survival for another 60 years. The editor
>of the classic Bike Guide thought it the best WLC restoration he had ever
>seen.
>The bike never had any original detailing like blackout rear lights or
>panniers or a machine gun holder, we could have gone down the route of
>making fake military parts for it but I think that's pretty crass. However a
>new owner could easily militarise it for a cost of less than £500 should
>they so wish.
>
>Fifthly - It's my bike and so we did it my way
>
>Thanks for your interest
>
>K
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